The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-10-13
THE HISTORY OF A HERO.
LEAVES FROM THE LIFE OF FIGHT
ING DICK ANDERSON.

ING DICh ANDERSON.
Southern Mon in Northern Armies-An AL
formative of Duty or Solf-Interest-R III
Anderson 81 Case In Point-Reminisccnc
of His Early Life and the Record of His
Military Careor.
CBy @ember OF Ills Military Family)
Those officers of the army and navy OF
tho United States who in 1861 so were
called upon to sever their connection
with the service of which they were Justly
proud, and to which oil of their youth
and most OF their mature years had been
devoted, constituted brave and gallant
band. They thought little of politics.
Many of them had been for years sepa-
rated from home ties, and now, by the
action of their States, they were con.
ffronted by question of duty on the one
hand and on the other of yielding up
their own interests and their love for the
banner under which many of them had
won renown in the past.
DELICATE QUESTION.
They had been educated firm believers
In the doctrine of States Rights; they
felt their allegiance first due to their
States, but to obey her call meant for
them the sacrifice of hopes of lifetime,
and to some want and poverty, in place
OF comfortable support, of which they
had reasonable assurance. All must be
surrendered OF else they must be deaf to
the call which was imperative and left
no option. How few hesitated, and
those who put duty, as they saw it, above
Oil else, surely deserved much from their
companions.
SON OF SUMTER.
One of this number is the subject of
thus little sketch. Born in Sumter county,
In the State of South Carolina, of old
and honorable ancestry, reared on the
soil of that State, there he received his
early education. Sent thence to West
Point he graduated in the class of 1912.
and was appointed o brevet I'd lieutenant
IN the 1st Dragons, United States Army.
In the Mexican war he served with his
regiment and was brovetted for gallautry.
After its termination his principal duty
was in the distant Nest. At Fort Knar-
ney, in Nebraska, he was doing GgLt
duty, and hoping for promotion some
day. When the war between the Statcs
became certainty, though so far away,
tho call Of the State to arms in her de-
fence was Immediately obeyed. He re-
signed his commission in the United
States Army, hustcned home and ton
dered his sword to the Governor OF South
Carolina, and was appointed colonel Of
tue lst regiment of State Troops, then
on Sullivan's Island. The lieutenant
colonel of this regiment was another son
of South Carolina, who was soon ap-
pointed brigadier general in the army
of the Confederate States, and whose
hic's blood was poured out ut Manassas.
while bearing the brunt Of tue battle,
and urging his troops to emulate the
steadiness of jackson s heroes, "stnnding
like stone wall" When Barnord q.
Beo died the State lost O son whose abili-
ty end devotion to her cause would have
beon bright and shining light, and
whose record would have proved him the
peor Of the worthiest Of those whose
swords flashed in her defence.
ANDERSON AS COLONEL.
Peculiarly modest and retiring, almost
self-depreciating in disposition, tho quiot,
unobtrusivo colonel, who doubted his
ability to be of much service, except as
commander OF small body of the arm
to which he had been accustomed, was
destined in few short months TO be
known throughout Gen. Lees army as
lighting Dick Anderson, to enjoy the
fullest confidence of that great COM
mRnder, and the love and admiration of
@s gallant q division of heroes as ever
vent to war.
A PROMISE OF GREATER THINGS.
At Williamsburg Richard II. Anderson
vas temporarily in command of Long
streets division, Of which his own bri-
gade afterwards Jenkins's) formed q
part. There those who know the man
and relied on his courage and skill first
had assurance that their expectations
would not be disappointed.
at Seven Pines Anderson's brinadc
won the admiration of tho army; it
pierced the cnemy's line and captured
Con. Casey's camp.
OF this charge Gen. Johnston wrote
that Il. IL. Anderson's brigade of South
Carollnlans bore prominent part in the
contest. At one time outflankcd and
almost surrounded, he not only ave,tod
its danger by mastery manmuYring, but
held the ground he had won.
IN THE THICK OF THE FRAY.
During tho seven days of battle around
Richmond Anderson was in tho thick Of
the fray. At blood-stained Gaines farm
he was conspicuous. There, as night
approached, and Mcclellan still held the
plateau around the house, Longstrcet
rode up to Anderson and said that the
position must be carried before night
and that his brigade was the last he 6ad
to send. This was not pleasant tidinGB
to Wearied troops who had been fighting
Tor twelve hours, but Anderson promptly
u Hl'J ClC Cun 90 IL
mine can" In q short time Mcclellan
was driven from his last vantage ground
and the mastery change of base" was a
forced necessity.
GOING UP HIGHER.
Anderson was now promoted and had
to part with his old brigade. His divi-
sion, composed of brigNdes from Virginia,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama aud MissiS-
sippi, which had not previously seon
much active service, soon proved itself
worthy of it's gallant commander, and
gained reputation second to mono in
the army. With it he had place at the
-. Second Manassas. Thence he led it into
Maryland, whore, by daring audacity
he assisted in holding Franklin's hosth
in check at Pleasant Valley until Har-
per g Ferry surrendered, and then hurried
back to the aid of Gen. Lees attenuated
army at SEarpsburg. In that battle An
derson was severely wounded, but re
tanned the command of his division until